Austin County, Texas

Austin County, Texas
Austin County is a rural, agricultural dominated county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,167. Its seat is Bellville. The county and region was settled primarily by German emigrants in the 1800s.
Austin County is included in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Austin County does not contain the city of Austin, the state capital of Texas, which lies in Travis County, about 110 miles to the northwest.
History
In 1836, the Texas Legislature established Austin County, naming it for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated Texas' Anglo-American colonization.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.5%) is covered by water.
Adjacent counties
Washington County (north)
Waller County (east)
Fort Bend County (southeast)
Wharton County (south)
Colorado County (west)
Fayette County (northwest)
Communities
Cities
Bellville (county seat)
Brazos Country
Sealy
South Frydek
Wallis
Town
Industry
San Felipe
Unincorporated communities
Bleiblerville
Buckhorn
Burleigh
Cat Spring
Cochran
Frydek
Kenney
Millheim
Nelsonville
New Wehdem
New Ulm
Peters
Post Oak Point
Raccoon Bend
Rockhouse
Shelby
Wehdem
Welcome
Ghost town
Rexville
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, 23,590 people, 8,747 households, and 6,481 families resided in the county. The population density was . The 10,205 housing units averaged . The racial makeup of the county was 80.22% White, 10.64% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 6.99% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 16.13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 26.9% were of German, 8.0% Czech, 6.4% English, and 5.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
Of the 8,747 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families; 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the population was distributed as 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,615, and for a family was $46,342. Males had a median income of $32,455 versus $22,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,140. About 8.80% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Austin County was one of the earliest counties in Texas to turn Republican. After 1944, the only time a Democrat has carried this county is in 1964. Every Republican presidential candidate since 2000 has carried more than 70% of the county vote.
United States Congress
Austin County is part of Texas's 10th congressional district, which as of 2019 is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Michael McCaul.
Texas Legislature
Texas Senate
District 18: Lois Kolkhorst (R) – first elected in 2014
Texas House of Representatives
District 13: Ben Leman (R) – first elected in 2018
Austin County Courthouse
County Judge: Tim Lapham (R)
Tax Assessor-Collector: Marcus A. Peña (R) – first elected in 2012
Education
The following school districts serve Austin County:
Bellville Independent School District
Brazos Independent School District (partial) (Formerly Wallis-Orchard ISD)
Brenham Independent School District (partial)
Columbus Independent School District (partial)
Sealy Independent School District
Burton Independent School District
(partial)
Blinn Junior College District is the designated community college for most of the county. Areas in Brazos ISD are in Wharton County Junior College District.
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 10
U.S. Highway 90
State Highway 36
State Highway 159
The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Austin County.
See also
Adelsverein
List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
National Register of Historic Places listings in Austin County, Texas
Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Austin County
References
External links
Austin County website
Austin County from the Texas Almanac
Austin County from the TXGenWeb Project
Historic Austin County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
1837 establishments in the Republic of Texas
Populated places established in 1837
Greater Houston